Video Games Flying Under The Radar
This year is looking like an amazing time for video games. There are games from the biggest AAA to the smallest of indies getting a lot of attention, which is great. It means we are in no short supply of great experiences. Unfortunately, due to crowded launch dates, poor marketing, or whatever else, it means there are plenty of great games not getting the attention that they deserve. So, let’s fix that.
Metro: Exodus
Metro: Exodus is the newest entry in Deep Silver’s post-apocalyptic, action survival series. The game drops on February 15th, which is the same day as Crackdown 3, Jump Force, and Far Cry: New Dawn. The Metro games are good, but the fan base it has isn’t very large. This crowded release date, and a lack of proper marketing, is making the game fall from people’s attention.
The game seems to be breaking away from everything we know about Metro. Rather than taking place underground in the tunnels, it instead takes place above ground. Our main character Artyom, and his wife Anna make the journey across a continent towards a new life.
The game is also aiming to shake up the series’ standing as a rather linear series. Now above ground, the game promises to add more open world nonlinear elements. This is one of the most exciting new aspects of the game compared to previous entries.
All our other favorite mechanics will be returning as well, such as weapon customization and scavenging for supplies and ammo. This is set to be the best entry in the series yet, and could be one of the best games of the year.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The newest Fire Emblem game is set to be the big splash that the series has needed for a long time. Nintendo Switch exclusives have sold shockingly well, whether they were new games, or just ports. Fire Emblem has struggled for a long time. But, with the success of Awakening and its popular mobile game, the series is in a better light than ever. All signs point towards this game being successful.
Unfortunately, we know very little about the game as of the writing of this article. No exact release date, or any specific details about what the game entails. Hopefully, we’ll learn more at a future Direct.
Regardless, this game isn’t being talked about much. Even in Nintendo fan circles, the game is rarely mentioned, despite many other highly anticipated titles lacking just as much information. Hopefully it receives some more buzz as we get closer to its release.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards
The final campaign for Shovel Knight is due to release on April 9th, 2019. Just like all the previous additions to the game, the expansion will be free for all players who own Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove. For such a highly acclaimed and beloved indie title, it has been overshadowed by other releases both large and small.
This expansion will put the player in King Knight’s shoes and show us his adventure that lead him to join The Order of No Quarter. Launching alongside this is also Shovel Knight: Showdown, which is a multiplayer brawling mode, similar to the likes of Brawlhalla or Super Smash Bros.
The game is about to receive a ton of new support. So, for a game of its standing, to be so overshadowed, is a tad surprising. Some of that might be how much it was discussed in 2018, now people are just waiting for it to happen.
Daemon X Machina
Daemon X Machina is an upcoming Switch exclusive produced by Kenichiro Tsukuda, the man behind the Armored Core series, with designs by Yusuke Kozaki, who was behind Fire Emblem: Awakening and Fire Emblem: Fates. So, this game is stacked.
It is going to have fast paced, but strategic mech based combat. Your player and your mech both have full customization. From what’s been shown, the game looks stunning both gameplay and art-wise.
The game could be one of the year’s most surprising releases. While we haven’t heard much about it since E3 last year, once it drops, people will be flocking towards it. The mech fighter genre is small, and the buzz it created after its announcement was large. It just needs some more details released to remind people of this beauty.
Gears 5
Gears 5 will be the newest entry in the Gears of War series. After Gears of War 4’s disappointing ending, hopefully this game gives the series the redemption it deserves and manages to conclude the main plot instead of leaving it on a disappointing cliff hanger.
Even when it was revealed it didn’t generate much discussion. For being one of Xbox’s only major exclusives with any real time frame of release set, it comes off as strange that there’s not more buzz.
Keep an eye out for this game. Everyone involved needs some form of redemption, and I’m sure this will be the game that gives them exactly that. Or it could be a continued failed effort to make the series live up to the standard set by the first three games. It’s a curse that appears to be rather common in the Gaming Industry
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Although it’s a port, I’m super excited for this underappreciated RPG to make its debut on the Nintendo Switch on April 23rd.
Dragon’s Dogma has intense, unique combat, and is set up so anyone can get into it. It generated some buzz when it was first announced but has since died off in favor of Kingdom Hearts III and Resident Evil 2. Not that it isn’t justified.
